Reader's Watchdog: Man questions city's commitment to Grandview Park

Dec. 29, 2013

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It’s an odd time of year to be thinking picnics, but Harry Van Zandt can’t help it.

Van Zandt’s family has an all-day reunion each summer at one of Des Moines’ gem green spaces, Grandview Park on the east side. But in the past few years, he says, he’s soured on the place.

Van Zandt says he has had to harp on the city Park and Recreation Department to add trash cans and portable toilets and clean the place up. The park currently lacks water near the playground and enough picnic tables to serve a large crowd. The indoor bathrooms aren’t working.

“The sign out there says Des Moines is proud of its parks,” he chuckled. “I don’t see it. The park has gone to the dogs.”

Van Zandt wanted to see if I could get more information than he has been able to regarding what, if any plans, the city has in store. I took a spin this month through the sprawling park next to the Grandview Golf Course at East 32nd Street and Easton Boulevard. It was a little gray and dreary, but there’s an open-air shelter, newer playground equipment, a wading pool and several picnic tables.

Jen Fletcher, marketing supervisor for the parks department, told me it’s true that adding water pumps or fountains near the playground isn’t an option right now because of budget restraints. But more picnic tables can be added.

There was good news: In July, Fletcher said, the wading pool will be replaced with a new “spray ground” for children.

And the city is recruiting volunteers to help clean up the park’s woodland area, so a new nature trail can be added. (To volunteer, go to parksvolunteer@dmgov.org. The sooner you do, the sooner that project gets done, Fletcher said.)

“There are a lot of plans and positive things coming to that park,” she said. “We’re really excited about those two projects and the neighborhood as well.”

Fletcher said the parks department just held public meetings regarding upgrades at Riverview Park at Sixth and Corning avenues near North High School, and MacRae Park on the south side.

Ideas from those meetings will be incorporated to the city’s master park plan.

A reader contacted me this month to find out if the American Community Survey she received in the mail is legitimate and asked whether she was obligated to fill it out, since the survey asked a number of financial questions.

The answer from the U.S. Census Bureau is “yes” and “yes.”

A spokesperson at the bureau said the American Community Survey is mailed out monthly all year, every year.

The bureau uses that survey to update the more extensive 10-year census, sampling addresses in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Answers are collected to obtain up-to-date statistics used by many federal, state, tribal and local leaders. Those with questions about the legitimacy of any mailings can call 800-354-7271 for additional confirmation.

All Census Bureau employees take an oath of nondisclosure. Disclosing any information obtained could result in five years in prison, or $250,000 in fines, or both.

Americans are obligated to answer the questions under Title 13 of the U.S. Code.